Thyroid issues

[SleeplessinOR]

I’m wondering if any of you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease or other thyroid issues and, if so, if getting your thyroid evened out had helped your rls at all? I have Hashimoto’s and have had it for years without requiring treatment but due to increased symptoms aside from rls I believe I now need to start taking medication for hypothyroidism. I am seeing my doctor tomorrow so wanted to get any information I could glean from here prior to that appointment.

[SueJohnson]

RLS is significantly more common in patients with known thyroid disease; Hashimoto's disease, among others. Treating it can help RLS.

[Pippins2]

Hi,I have Graves Disease which causes an overactive thyroid but I haven't noticed any change in my RLS either way whether my thyroid levels are in range or not

[Moonwalker1967]

I am living without a thyroid gland as this has been removed.

My RLS was better with a thyroid gland and straight after the operation I was told to lie still and had a bad RLS attack. Not had RLS for ages before the operation.

Horrific experience plus high anxiety levels. No medication with me in the hospital and struggling. The nurses gave me Pramipexole.

From then it went downhill. Augmentation etc.

I think that the thyroid definitely plays a part.

[Merny5]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have been taking medication for over 20 years. Most evenings and nights are horrible for me. So I believe thyroid issues may affect RLS treated or untreated.

[erinjee]

Thyroid problems here too - my doctor speaks hashimotos and then doesn’t but I take Armour and it’s more regulated but no improvement in RLS. I read somewhere (?) that one of the synthetic thyroid meds can be an issue for us, maybe Sue knows?

[restlessstoz]

I am having my thyroid removed on 29th May due to a possibly cancerous nodule and it pressing on my oesophagus. I'm most interested in the conversation and hope that when I start on replacement thyroid hormone, I won't have problems with my RLS which is currently under great control with buprenorphine patches. I would like to know if Sue has any information... At this stage I know nothing about the alternatives to having a thyroid.

[Opie__]

Our daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto's at 13 and her thyroid burnt out. She is 47 now and going thru menopause so her meds have slowly increased over the years. I never had thyroid problems til I went thru Chemo 9/10 months ago. They have had to increase prescription twice in 6 months. I have had RLS for several years but it is under control since I got off DA and went on gabapentin. I had never heard of the connection between thyroid disease and RLS. Good luck with doctor visit

[Ohmg]

Hi SleeplessinOr, I have been taking Amour ( or other NDT Medication) 4,5 grain since 2008 because of Hashimoto. My RLS startet ~2006. I was never aware of any connection between the two. If you need further information about Hashimoto and/ or NDT get on “stopthethyroidmadness.com “ They are very competent and they might even have some information RLS in connection with Hashi. I will also start researching too.

Synthetic thyroid medication is just awful and makes no sense, especially with Hashi. 👍

[SleeplessinOR in reply to Ohmg]

Thank you, I will check out that site. I was referred to an endocrinologist but they refused the referral due to a shortage in providers so now I’m waiting for a referral to a different one. My pcp has me on Levothyroxine but feels the endo will likely change that when I see one. I had an ultrasound on my thyroid today as my last one was in 2011. I have multiple nodules and a large cyst that have been biopsied a few times. Hopefully I won’t have to do that again. I appreciate the information regarding that site and will visit it now.

[Ohmg in reply to SleeplessinOR]

As far as know, Amour is the most expensive. In the past several providers did have shortages. On their websites there are plenty suppliers.

The thing about NDT is you get every thyroid hormone T4, T3, T2, T1, and tyrosine. Just the medication with T4 alone is a problem if your thyroid doesn‘t convert to T3. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.